Under the laws, the minister would be responsible for revoking a child's Australian citizenship unless another responsible parent of the child was an Australian citizen and not a dual national.

Another exception does not allow children to be rendered stateless, in the same way Australian citizens without two registered nationalities could not become stateless.

Other parts of the bill would allow the government to revoke a person's citizenship over "conduct commenced before, on or after" the date the law comes into effect.

While notes for the bill say such clauses were "not retrospective", it could apply to Australians currently fighting overseas with Islamic State, Kurdish forces or other non-government military groups.

Debate was adjourned on Wednesday to continue in six weeks after winter recess.